Trackers

Trackers are event-driven timers that either control when an event happens in a game or serve as a measure of overall success for the group.

As game events occur or the group accomplish or fail certain objections they move a marker around a track and when certain points are reached the GM triggers events in the game.

The first physical tracker (that I know of) was provided in the WFRP 3e game and is used extensively in the mechanics. When used well the tracker is a source of tension and can be used to force player’s hands by indicating that events may overtake them if they delay too long.

Pathfinder

Trackers are extensively used in Pathfinder magazine to track success across segments of the campaign and within scenarios to measure support or to trigger conditional events within the scenario. Normally this is not a physical item and the tracking is simply done by the GM recording a running points total.